Tourism Indochina: Sihanoukville Takes off as a Tourism Hub

Sihanoukville (Khmer: ក្រុងព្រះសីហនុ - Krong Preah Sihanouk), also known as Kampong Saom, is a province in southern Cambodia on the Gulf of Thailand. This port city is a growing Cambodian urban center, located 185 kilometres (115 mi) southwest of the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh. The province is named after King Father Norodom Sihanouk and grew up around the construction of Sihanoukville Port. Construction on the port began in June 1955 and it was the only deep water port in Cambodia. The port was built in part due to the waning power of the French leading to the Vietnamese tightening their control over the Mekong Delta and hence restricting river access to Cambodia. Sihanoukville's beaches have made it a popular tourist destination.

The province is served by Sihanoukville International Airport, 18 kilometres (11 mi) from downtown, although it has a limited commercial operation. The planned flights between Sihanoukville and Siem Reap may encourage visitors to Angkor temples in Siem Reap to extend their stay, though the crash of a charter flight in Phnom Damrey on 25 June 2007 from Siem Riep, has caused concerns. The flights are scheduled to start on December 14, 2011.

Sihanoukville attracts tourists with its relaxed beach atmosphere when compared to Thailand's more developed ones. However, the city has attracted not only tourists, but several NGOs and foreign and national investors in the last years in order to develop not only the growing tourist industry, but its capacity as an international sea port and other sectors like textile and real estate. In Sihanoukville is also located the main factory of Angkor Beer, the Cambodian national beer.

Sihanoukville was the place of the last official battle of the United States army in the Vietnam War, although the incident took place outside Vietnam. It is known as the Mayagüez incident on May 12–15, 1975 between the US forces and the Khmer Rouge. Currently, visitors dive in Koh Tang, one of the Sihanoukville islands where the major battle to free the SS Mayagüez took place. Divers can see two shipwrecks 40 metres (130 ft) down.

On 22 December 2008, King Norodom Sihamoni signed a Royal Decree that changed the municipalities of Kep, Pailin and Sihanoukville into provinces, as well as adjusting several provincial borders.

Sihanoukville is located in the south of Cambodia. It is 230 kilometres (143 mi) southwest of Phnom Penh in a small Peninsula and Bahia. Beaches are the main feature that attracts national and foreign visitors. A small archipelago is embedded by the Sihanoukville Bahia off its south and west coast. The commercial and international port is located at the north west. The limits of its territory: North and West Koh Kong province, East Kampot province and south Gulf of Thailand.

Beaches that line the west contour of the city from north to south are Victory Beach, Lamherkay Beach, Koh Pos Beach, Independence Beach, Sokha Beach, Serendipity Beach, Ochheuteal Beach and Otres Beach. The most popular beaches are Ochheuteal, Sokha, Independence and Victory. Tourists can take water taxis to the nearby islands for diving, snorkeling, and game fishing.

The peninsula is separated from the central plains of Cambodia by the Damrei Mountains, especially the Bouk Kou. The city is also besides the Ream National Park (210 km2) and it includes the islands of Koh Thmei and Koh Sei.

Sihanoukville Takes off as a Tourism Hub:

As Sihanoukville take off as a tourism hub, Cambodia tourism authority and developers say that preserving the natural harmony and health of its beaches and coastline is the a priority. Officials in Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism have echoed concern about pollution as tourism grows in Sihanoukville, and say they are trying to take more thoughtful approach to development. With funding from Asia Development Bank (ADB) the government has advised a wastewater treatment project that will be implemented in coastal area currently under development to make sure water does not become polluted and that waste form development project does not reach the sea. “We have to develop these beaches with proper environmental protection,” says Dr Thong Khon, Secretary of State of Tourism Ministry.

The ADB funding will also go toward training lifeguard and building Watchtowers along popular beaches. Prime Minister Hun Sen himself lunched the project in Sihanoukville, on 2 August. Development plans for the region go well beyond the beach. To make Sihanoukville a more attractive destination for tourist the government is working for revamp Sihanoukville Kang Keng Airport so tourist can travel a circuit between Siem Reap, Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville. The Air port would also make a transit to the airport in Rattanakiri Province, in Cambodia north’s east. According to the Cambodia Travel Agent Association, cruise to Sihanoukville are already popular, and carrying passenger from China, Europe and the United States dock at Sihanoukville’s port at least one each week. Tourism officials are also optimistic that a recent agreement reach by ASEAN to exempt member countries from paying visa fees when visiting other member countries will increase regional visitor traffic. Kun Kam Eng, a father of two, spent a recent weekend with his family on Ochheuteal Beach. “We are rich in having so many beautiful places to visit,” a 45 old was please to report as he looked out to the water. “I love the beaches in Sihanoukville, so I hope they always stay clean and fresh. Our Seawater is sweater is so clean, the sand is very white and the view of the sea is totally paradise. Sihanoukville Governor Say Hak is optismistic that Sihanoukville develop will help improve people lifestyles of people living in Sihanoukville municipality. As a part of this effort Prime Minister Hun Sen has strongly encourage people to engage in “home stay” business, renting local home to tourists. With the huge influx of visitors during national holidays, the home stay policy could help put money directly into villagers’ pockets. Sihanoukville is not only the paradise on Cambodia coast. Many islands have yet to see development for tourism and the beach in and around Kompot and Kep are idyllic.

Several hotels Mangers in Sihanoukville say their businesses base on the beaches and as long as beaches remain the main attraction for domestic and foreign tourists, the hospitality industry will continue to grow.

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